Kids love cycling as much as, if not perhaps, more than adults because it gives them a sense of independence and freedom, allowing them to have healthy fun with their parents or head out with their friends once they are old enough to play unsupervised. There are many different types of kids’ bike available and because youngsters want to get the same kind of kit as their elders, the variety and quality in today’s market is unrivalled. The only issue may be that you are given a little too much choice.
When your kids are very young you will need to get them a bike which they can use to learn all of the necessary skills that make riding a natural process rather than a wobbly nightmare. Training bikes tend to come with two stabilisers, which help create a base from which kids can develop their skills. The stabilisers can be removed at a later date, at which point things can get a little trickier and you should expect to see some falls, but attentive tutorship and a can do attitude will see them through until they are confident enough to cycle without any extra wheels or parental support. Basic kids’ bikes tend to come complete with a chain guard to make sure nothing gets tangled and compliance with European Cycle Safety Standards is always worth looking out for when choosing a first bike.
When your children grow a little older and can ride with confidence then there are a number of different bike brands and styles that they can pick. Typically, these can fall into the category of a mountain bike or a BMX. The former can range wildly in price, with bargain options available or much more serious, expensive models aimed at those who want to compete in races also on the market. The latter tend to be inexpensive thanks to their lack of gears and simple set up but kids who are going to get serious about BMX as a sport can also find high end kids’ bikes of this kind. In general, a mountain bike is considered to be a better all-rounder and good over long distances but if your child is insistent on picking up a BMX then there are quality products that will perform well as long as you check the specifications and shop around.
Safety is a very important aspect of riding a bike and this is particularly true with children. As such, it is essential that you get them the basics to make sure that they are not put in harm’s way. A helmet is highly recommended and although you cannot completely prevent bumps and grazes as they are growing up you might also want to invest in other safety accessories like knee and elbow pads. Visibility is another important aspect when riding a bike and you can get high visibility jackets designed for children so that if they are riding to and from school or around the local area they are not difficult to detect.
